*Twilight Giveaway*

It's almost Twilight Tuesday here at Park-Avenue Princess and you will not believe what Lizzy Bleu has up for grabs!  To celebrate the New Moon Twilight Movie coming out on November 11th, Lizzy has an awesome Twilight Bracelet to giveaway to ONE LUCKY Park-Avenue Princess Reader!!  How awesome is that?!?

This contest is going to be in addition to her Monthly $50.00 Giveaway, which I will be listing next!  I also have a ton of winners that I just pulled for past giveaways that I need to email (sorry for the delay) and those names will be posted here as well! (Including last month's Lizzy Bleu winner).

The winner will receive a  Twilight Bracelet like this one pictured below  -

You want it? Here's how you can get it!!

TWILIGHT BRACELET GIVEAWAY!!

To enter you MUST be a follower of Park Avenue Princess, this means publically and through Google Friend Connect if you are a Blogger Follower! (I will check) To do that just need to click Follow in the google Friends connect widget on the sidebar.  If you are not a Blogger Blog Follower, please tell me how you do follow.  Contests on this blog are only open to my readers who are followers.

*This giveaway will end on 12/7/09*

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see bottom of blog)

+5 If you TWEET About This Giveaway (Leave Link Please)

+10 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (Link)

+20 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

Separate your entries one per post! (either each or just +5 for example)

(+25 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

You will BOTH Get the Points!

*Don't Forget to Put in Your Entries for the E-Reader of Your Choice and Put the Button on Your Blog!

As always, Good Luck and Have FUN!!

KISSES & TOODLES!!

Saturday Spotlight and a Giveaway!

Shhhh.... I know! I know! It's "technically" Sunday.  But, I figured that since we turned back the clocks, maybe, just maybe, I could get away with it!  Sneaky... huh?

Well here we are again! Finally! A new Sunday...um, SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT!  And look who we have instore for you this week!

And what shall we call you?  Ya' know...what's your name? I like to surround myself with a glamour of mystery... ;)

*Nods head*  That's why you're here...right?  You're surrounding yourself with glamour! *giggles* Get it! Get it? Me.... Me... *ha ha ha*  Glam...o..ur...  Ok... Next!


Alias? Zombie Girrrl! I'd been known as "21," but adopted the new moniker from Taschima of Bloody Bookaholic after I left a rather lengthy and passionate rant on the many uses of zombies in literature. She kinda gave me my online identity.

Very chic! Spooky! I likey!

Your blog name? Crackin' Spines & Takin' Names. I changed it for Zombie Appreciation Week, though, to Crackin' Spines & Takin' Brains. Me so clever. =9

Oh... that YOU are!  *wink*
Crackin' Spines? *giggles*   Get it?  Crack...   *ahem*

And where can we find this FABU Blog? http://crackinspines.blogspot.com/

Well? Go take a peek...  Yeah! I'll Wait!

Alright. They're back! How about a "Quickie Bio"?  I’ve always felt that biographies were for successful people, but I’ll give it a shot anyway!

I’m a military brat, so I’ve moved around a lot, and have the bragging right of having lived on all three coasts. I didn’t get into reading until my early teens, mostly because I didn’t like sitting still (still don’t), but now I love “traveling” with books. That sounds lame, but that’s how it is! Books feed my imagination and fuel my daydreams. Also, they’re the only friends that never get left behind (bar some disastrous packing accident). They’ve always been the first things out of the box, and I never travel without four or five of them.

Why did you start your blog? I started my blog after seeing how many new books my friends were finding through fellow bloggers, I wanted in! I came for the books, but I stay for the people! I’ve met a ton of nice people, and there’s always something going on!

Amen to that!

What is your favorite genre and/or genres? It’d be quicker to tell you what I don’t like!

*Well by all means then...it is YOUR show, right?* SPILL IT!

 I like fiction and non-fiction (LOVE reading about the 1918 flu pandemic!), but I basically only read YA fiction because it’s easier to avoid smut (I hate smut!). I love supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy; although I do like the occasional contemporary fiction too, like An Abundance of Katherines.

Who is your favorite author? Ooh, hard! I have a favorite author for every genre, subgenre, and day of the week! Tamora Pierce is my fallback, though. Her Tortall books never disappoint, and I’ve been reading her stuff faithfully since I was thirteen. Her sheroes (Literally she-heroes, her word, not mine. “Heroine” is too druggy, even with the extra e.)  kick butt!

"Butt" Kicking is ALWAYS Good...  Did you say 13?

What is your favorite book of all time? That is probably the hardest question ever conceived by man.  *Note: I am a Woman * Fiction would be World War Z by Max Brooks. Non-fiction, Flu by Gina Kolata. YA fiction… that’s too hard to answer. There’s so much good stuff! Too much! No, wait, there’s no such thing as too many good books!

Describe your review system: My review system is highly scientific. I read a book, decide how much danger I’d risk to get at that book, then I assign it a rating from 1 to 5 zombies. I really admire people who can break a book down to its constituent parts and rate every individual aspect of a book, but I haven’t been able to come up with my own detailed system, so for now, zombies it is!

And Zombies...Rock!

How is your blog unique from other blogs? Well, it’s the only place in the known universe where you can read what I think about books. Haha. One thing that sets me apart from other bloggers is my footnotes. I include my deeper or unrelated thoughts on things in footnotes at the end of most posts. It works out for me because my mind tends to wander, which leads to rambling and a lack of clarity. Plus, they’re fun to do!

How do you market your blog? I haven't really marketed my blog, per se. I've posted a link to it on my Shelfari page and linked my IMM posts on The Story Siren, but this is the first actual promotion I’ve ever done. I’ve been a bit of a chicken-butt in that department.

tsk tsk... "chicken butt" (Note: Lots of  "butt" and "zombie" talk) ..

Can you give us three tips about content? Be honest. Be kind. Be yourself! You can give a poor review without tearing the book or writer down, and the most interesting blogs are the ones where you really get a feel for what the blogger is like through their writing.

Great Advice!

Can you give three tips about blog promotion? Look out for blogs that promote their fellows and inquire into being included, don’t snag people’s email addresses for the purpose of advertising (very poor internetiquette), and be patient.

Patience is a Virtue...

Thank you for being here Zombie Girl! Oh and Guess what "Chicken Butt"?  I love you and your blog!  *giggles*  (I crack myself up)!

OK! Now that you've got to know Zombie Girl, she's been kind enough to offer a really Awesome Giveaway!  Are you ready?!? 

I knew you were!

GIVEAWAY!

Top 5 Recommended Reads Contest!

The winner will choose one of ZG's Top 5 Recommended Reads for their prize (all paperback)!

The choices are:

World War Z by Max Brooks

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Den of Shadows Quartet (Yes, all 4 books [in one]!) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

ZG's RULES:

To enter just leave a comment telling me what which book you’d like to win and answer me this: What is your top reading recommendation? (This question is entirely self-serving as I’m always on the lookout for new reading material.)

Don’t forget your email address! US mailing addresses only, please (sorry, globies, I can’t afford the shipping right now!)

MY RULES!

Blogger Blogs, You MUST Be A Google Friend Connect Follower

For This Giveaway, That means on BOTH Blogs to be Entered!

How do you do this? You click the FOLLOW Button up in

The Top Corner and PLEASE Make Sure Your Settings Are Public!

If you are from another type of blog, please let me know HOW you are following!

How Do you Win? It's Simple!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight November 21st! (EST)

Winner Drawn on or about the 22nd!

Extra Entries

You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT on Both Blogs

or the following will Not Count! Also, If you do not include an Email Address, I have

to pick another winner. I can't chase email addresses any longer.

I Recommend Following On Twitter -It's NOT Required But I do Contests,

and Giveaways there as well! Currently, I'm doing a giveaway for a

$50.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Card there! You can still get in on that!

I'll tell you how in another post! But, if you follow on Twitter, I bet

you'll find out MUCH sooner!

Plus, there are Major Announcements made on Twitter and not Here!

My NEXT post will be about how to win either a Kindle, Nook or Sony E-Reader!

That's YOUR Choice! Well...The Winner's Choice and That Will Be ONE of You!

The Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see bottom of blog)

+5 If you TWEET About This Giveaway (Leave Link Please)

+10 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (Link)
+20 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

Separate your entries one per post! (either each or just +5 for example)

(+25 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

You will BOTH Get the Points!

As Always, Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!

** If YOU Would LIKE To Be FEATURED Please Hitt "Contact Me" **

OR

** Send Me An Email At IAmHiMaintenance{at}aol{dot}com **

and Preach to the Princess!!

Kisses & Toodles!!

A Charming Giveaway

Yes...Just Like My Prince, This Giveaway IS Charming!

I wouldn't be a girlie girl if I didn't LOVE jewelry! I LOVE jewelry MORE than I could ever express. There's just something about it. It sparkles, it's gorgeous, it dresses an outfit up or down and most importantly it makes me feel gorgeous!

So how could I turn down the chance to review an absolutely beautiful Charm Bracelet from Charm Factory? Here's a hint... I COULDN'T! Where do YOU come in? Well...ONE lucky Park-Avenue Princess Reader gets the VERY same! (Minus the review) You'll get to pick Eight (8) Sterling Silver Charms from the thousands of charms they have at Charm Factory which they'll put on a bracelt for you! I know what you're thinking, it's going to take weeks to get that custom bracelt. Right? WRONG! I got my bracelet in exactly THREE (3) Days and it was EXACTLY what I wanted!

Charm Factory doesn't just specialize in charms! They have MUCH more to offer such as rings, bracelets, beads and MORE! The charms are absolutely gorgeous and you can find a charm to represent just about ANYTHING! I was completely amazed at the selection. The customer service was second to none! Angie helped me with every step and answered any and all questions that I had.

Another great feature, Charm Factory ships for FREE! It doesn't matter WHAT you order! You can order a little or a lot, One item or One Hundred! It all ships free! What a wonderful heirloom! You can make a themed bracelet or something all your own that means something to just YOU! It's always nice to get even a small token when you hit a milestone, you want to show your love or keep something close that means the world to you and why not do that with a Charm? I think it's a fun idea! A few other interesting facts you should know woudl be that all the charms are lead free, .925 Sterling Silver, they have live online support, there's no minimum order, they also sell wholesale and everything is made right here in the United States!

So what charms did I put on my Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet? I wanted to pick ones that meant something to me over a pre-made themed bracelet and I chose A Ladies High Heel Shoe, A Purse, Princess Charm, Teapot (with a moveable lid), A Moveable Shell Charm (because June's birthstone is a pearl), The June Birthstone Heart, Crown and Scepter and A really cute Birthstone Ring!

I absolutely LOVE it!! Thank you CHARM FACTORY!!

Now, if you'd like to Win a Charm Bracelet with EIGHT Charms of YOUR Choice, here's what you have to do!

THE CHARMING GIVEAWAY!!

ONE LUCKY Reader Will WIN A Charm Bracelet With

Eight Charms Of Your Choice Courtesy of Charm Factory!

This Contest is Open to Residents of the U.S. and Canada

The Charm Bracelet Will Be Shipped Directly

From The Charm Factory!

What does that mean? No P.O. Boxes (Please)!

How Do you Win?

It's Simple!

You must follow MY Blog With Google Friend Connect

Just Hit the Follow Button!

That Way I Can See You and Know You Are One of My Readers!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight October 25th (EST)

WINNERS Drawn on (or around) the 26th!

Extra Ways to Win!

Remember! You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT

for the Extra Entries Do Not Count!

I'd Like to Thank Charm Factory

for making this Giveaway possible!

Also, Because of the "Royal Giveaway" coming up, I recommend

that you Subscribe to My Feed and/or Follow Me On Twitter!

That Way, You Will Not Miss Important Announcements!

This is Not Required to Enter This Giveaway - Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you TWEET About This Giveaway (daily)

+3 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see blogged bar at bottom of blog)

+10 If you Follow Me @APrkAvePrincess on TWITTER!

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post

+20 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

Try to Separate your entries one per post!

(+15 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention that they are new and you sent them!

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!

Thank you ALL for Stopping By!

This past week was about Book Blogger Appreciation

and I Want You To Know That I Appreciate You ALL

and Have A Whole Lot To Celebrate! So Much that I'd

Like to Continue Celebrating for the Rest of the Month!

Without you, your comments and input, this blog

wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

KISSES ~ x0xx

Who Wants it?

OK...I've decided that by emailing ALL the people that win here at "Park-Avenue Princess" is taxing on the French Manicure.  So, what I've decided to do is this...

When someone wins and already has a copy of the book OR if someone doesn't contact me within 48 hours of winning, it then becomes fair game for ANYONE of my followers that wants it.  And this doesn't only go for the books, it goes for any prize!  How will it work? First person to contact me through my "Contact" button up top with the name of the book/prize  that they want, gets it!  It's that simple! 


I'm going to start right now with -

"HOW TO TAME A MODERN ROGUE"

You want it?  Contact me!!

Ready... Set... GO!!

KISSES ~ x0xx

How It Ends -- Giveaway!!

On Friday, I was part of a blog tour for "How It Ends" by Laura Weiss. It would be an understatement to say that I LOVED the book! Well, when I sent in my link to the author and to MTV Books (Simon & Schuster), I was told that I could give away this wonderful book to ONE LUCKY Reader!

If you missed the Blog Tour Post with my review, you can find it - here! I gave it a FIVE Tiara Rating!! It was THAT amazing...

So, do you want to know "HOW IT ENDS"?

ONE of My Lucky Readers Will Win A Copy For Their Very Own!

Courtesy of Sarah at Simon & Schuster

You MUST be a Resident of the U.S. or Canada Only (I'm not shipping)

You Must Have a Street Address (No P.O. Boxes Please)

You MUST be a follower to WIN -- what are you waiting for?

*Click* that follow button over to the right!!

You can WIN this book by:

Comment with your email address (I need to be able to reach you)

+5 For Following Me on TWITTER (leave your @name)

Mine is @APrkAvePrincess OR Hit my cute little Twitter Button!

+3 Per TWEET (Link back)

+5 for Blogging about this giveaway and linking back

+10 For putting my button on your blog and linking back!

This GIVEAWAY will Close on September 22nd and

Winner drawn on September 23rd!!

Can't wait until then? Buy it!

Best of LUCK and HAVE FUN!!

KISSES ~ XXX

How To Tame A Modern Rogue Giveaway!

How to Tame A Modern Rogue

By: Diana Holquist

Publisher: Forever (a Division of Hachette Book Group)

Available: August 1, 2009

Pages: 320

About the Book:

Ally Giordano’s beloved grandmother actually believes that she's living in her favorite romance novel in Regency England and Ally doesn't have the heart to set her straight. But now Granny Donny's last wish is for a retreat to the country and Ally can't refuse her...until she demands that Sam Carson accompany them. And though his smiles turn her knees into jelly, Ally knows better than to trust a playboy...and she definitely knows better than to try to change one. Or does she?

Want more? Read an excerpt.

Check out the Fun Facts.

Visit Diana Holquist’s website.

Follow @DianaHolquist on Twitter.

About the Author:

Diana Holquist

I love to write. That's pretty much all I do. Ask my family about the undone laundry, the unbought groceries, and the fact that I rarely find time to get dressed in the morning. Actually, if you train your family right, they won't notice any of these things. "Popcorn for dinner again, Mom! Cool," say my filthy children. God bless them, they don't know what panty hose are. Oh, my poor husband. What else is there to know about me? I love kids. I love cats. I love chocolate (not necessarily in that order). And I love to hear from readers. So you can log on to my Web site at www.dianaholquist.com and let me know what's on your mind.

GIVEAWAY!!

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group I will be giving away 5 Copies!!

Thank You Anna!!
You Must be a Resident of the US or Canada
You must have a Street Address (No P.O. Boxes Please)

How do you win?
My Readers Will have a Chance to WIN One of FIVE Copies
So, you MUST be a follower of my blog!

More Chances? You Got 'em!

+3 if you Tweet This (unlimited)
+5 if you follow me on Twitter
+5 if you BLOG about this (Link Back)
+10 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back to Me!

This Giveaway Will Close at Midnight (EST) Sept 18th and
WINNERS Announced on September 19th!
Best of LUCK and Have Fun!!

Kisses -- XXX

"How It Ends" -- Blog Tour

How It Ends
By: Laura Weiss
Published by: MTV Books (Simon & Schuster)
Available: August 4. 2009
Pages: 304
Young Adult to Adult

How it Rated at the Castle -

Visit Laura Weiss

Buy

About "How It Ends"
(taken from Laura's Web Site)

All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him – but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be.

Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was.

Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audio book the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without even realizing it, the story begins to change her.

Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering irrevocable conclusion.

My thoughts:

Hannah is the apple of her neighbor Helen's eye. From a very young age she practically brought her up. Helen is much more than a neighbor to Hannah, she's more like a beloved grandmother. And so the story is set. Hannah is your typical teenager. She's fun, full of spunk,energy and most of all, kindness. Of course at times, you can see Hannah's rebellious side and angst. And as Hannah gets older and grows older, you can see that she's still Helen's whole world. Unfortunately, Hannah makes Seth the focus of hers. Hannah's determined to make Seth her very own, and we as readers. get to enjoy the laugh out loud memories of growing up and being in "love" with a boy!

Also, as with most teenagers, their time for the adults in their life becomes less and less as they try to venture out more and more on their own. I couldn't help but cheer on Hannah as she did the things that made her smile and then cry with a broken -heart of my very own when she was sad or lost. It's at this point of the story that we learn that Helen has a dark past and a very deep secret that she's kept from Hannah. It's breaking her heart to watch Hannah grow up distanced and now somewhat 'apart' from her. But yet she understands that the cycle of life usually takes this turn. It becomes Helen's mission to make Hannah understand who she really is.

In the past when Hannah would ask about Helen's life, she would make up beautiful and brilliant stories about a wonderful well-adjusted life. These lies now eat at Helen and she's now determined to make it right. To document all the happenings of her past and let Hannah know the truth.

Author Laura Weiss created characters with such depth and realism that I literally forgot about everything else. I was suddenly lost in their world and needed to know all I could about each one. There were many times when I though I knew what was going to happen and to my surprise, it was not at all the way I thought it would be. Rich in emotion and dialogue, Weiss creates a story that will keep you thinking long after the book has ended. I'm still thinking about Hannah and Helen.

I laughed and I cried and then I cried some more. "How it Ends" would make the PERFECT book club read. There is so much to discuss. I would definitely not categorize this story as a 'light' or 'beach' read and it's just long enough to not make the story too taxing on the reader. You'll love "How It Ends" from page one to page 304.

I haven't read a story this beautifully told in a very long time. Heartwarming and Heartbreaking all inn one. This novel is about 'true' love, what it means and everything that comes along with it. I absolutely loved "How It Ends". Highly recommended!

Read Laura Weiss' Bio

That's all for now...Happy Reading!

Kisses ~ XXX

Summer Of Two Wishes Blog Tour & Giveaway!!

Book: Summer of Two Wishes
By Julia London
Publisher: Pocket Star (Simon and Schuster)
Available in: Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: August 18, 2009
Pages: 432
Language: English
Buy the book at Amazon

My Royal Rating:


First and foremost, I'd like to make a public apology to both author Julia London and Sara Reidy of Pocket Star (a division of S&S) . I was sent this wonderful copy of "Summer of Two Wishes" by Sara for this tour and my post was supposed to be up first thing this morning. I wasn't feeling well enough to post last night and I forgot to make it an "automatic post" and therefore missed having it up on time. It's still the correct day, just a little later. So, to Ms. London and Sara, I apologize profusely! Sometimes illness can be cruel and really not care. We, as human beings, feel differently (and I am extremely thankful for that). With that said, on with the tour for "SUMMER OF TWO WISHES" by Julia London!

Synopsis:

Who's Wife Is She?

Macy Lockhart's life shattered in a moment with the news that her husband, Finn -- serving in the military overseas -- has been killed in the line of duty. Their ardent and devoted marriage is over, leaving Macy alone, empty, directionless. But while she tries to sustain herself with memories of Finn, the quiet, strong man who made her and their small Texas ranch the center of his life, it is wealthy Wyatt Clark who slowly brings joy back into her life. Her love for Wyatt may be less romantic than the breathless passion she'd once shared with Finn, but she vows to cherish him, and their marriage is happy and as solid as a rock. Until the day that Finn, miraculously spared from death, returns home to claim his bride....
How can a woman choose between the two men she loves? And how will she make the right choice -- for herself and everyone involved? In a deeply moving, passionate novel, New York Times bestselling author Julia London illuminates the questions hidden in a woman's heart.

My Thoughts:

Miracles can happen, and do...

Wow! I wish I could just leave it at that...that's all I kept thinking through the entire novel. But, if you know me, then you know I would never leave it at just "wow".... (In case you don't know, I'm a talker and not in a little way)!

So, here's the situation, to Macy Lockheart, there's no one in the world she loves more than her husband Finn. She lives for him, he's the very air she breathes and they have the *Perfect* marriage. Together, they live in Cedar Springs and run a horse ranch and this means not only the perfect marriage, but the perfect life to go with it. Macy and Finn couldn't be any happier than they are when they're together.

But when Finn enlists in the military, after Macy begging him not to do so, she soon finds herself alone and missing her husband greatly. Awaiting for his return, she's greeted at the door with his dog tags and sympathetic apologies. There was evidence that he was killed in Afghanistan. Suddenly her entire wold comes crashing down and Macy feels she no longer has much to live for. She's in a deep depression and it's going to take something or someone should I say, to bring her out.

Enter after Wyatt Clark - a strong, self-confident and very well off man. As he helps her regain her strength and life of promise, they fall in love and are soon exchanging vows. With her life back on track, and a new husband that can give her any thing, the unthinkable is about to happen.

After being married for only seven months and preparing for a charity function, Macy is about to get more shocking news. It seems that Finn is not dead, in fact, for the past three years, he has been held captive by the Taliban and just made his way back to the coalition troops after escaping! That's right, he's ALIVE, and after three years of grieving Macy can't believe what she's now found true. He one ... no make that FIRST true love is alive and she's elated ... but how to tell Wyatt? And who will she choose? How could she ever choose?

Author Julia London does a marvelous job with this love triangle. Each character has depth and gives meaning to the story. A heart-breaking and romantic tale that's not to be missed! You'll be turning pages until late in the evening following the lives of these three characters! Julia's prose is magical and beautifully written. So be sure to pick up "Summer of Two Wishes" and a big package of tissues as well!

Read an Excerpt - Here

About the Author:

Julia London

Here's where I usually insert the author's bio...but I found something much better on Julia's site...her "unofficial Bio" from her web site!

Okay, here is the real scoop on Julia London: the official bio looks nothing like who I think is the real me. The unofficial truth is that I was born and raised in rural west Texas. I was a fat baby and typical little girl with Barbies, bikes, and an overactive imagination. I know that I loved to make up stories from a time I can scarcely remember (because my mom has a story I wrote in the first grade, which featured me in an episode of Wagon Train), and I know that I always loved books.

I remember going to the library. It was in an old house and it was very cool inside and smelled like old books and all the children’s books were on lower shelves for easy access by little hands. I read all the usual stuff: Nancy Drew, Little House on the Prairie, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women… Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sex but Were Afraid to Ask (by then I was fifteen or sixteen and was afraid to ask).

In my early teens, I began to dream of great adventure and hunky guys and filled notebooks with stories of a girl who looked and talked like me and was constantly caught up in adventure and peril. She always landed in the arms of hunky guys who happened to resemble a few of my favorite TV stars. Hey, I’m not ashamed to admit it: Starsky and Hutch, Alias Smith and Jones, and yes, even Keith Partridge.

I went to college, I got a job, and when I got a little older, I began to live the real adventures of my life. I traveled to far-flung places and tried things I never thought I’d try. I had good jobs with the federal government and eventually ended up working in the White House, and then later, I came back to Texas and worked as a public administrator until I could take politics no more.

That’s when I decided to turn my penchant for making up stories into books, and I’ll be damned if an agent and a publisher didn’t want to publish my daydreams. I have been a lucky, lucky girl.



I look back at my life and mark the passage of time by standard measures: bad hair and bad style sense. Or, I can pinpoint where I was and what I was doing in my life by the sports I tried. Not all of them took, but I discovered I was best at tennis (back in the day), golf (except when it’s too hot, and its always too hot in Texas) and wogging (sort of a half-walk, half-jog. Extremely ugly in appearance, but gets the job done), which I do only moderately well.

Along the way I fell in love with a few good dogs and a few good men, and found the ones I want to keep forever.

Sure, there have been those few occasions I might have drank too much and did some things I wish I hadn’t, but overall, I have no regrets. I’ve never wanted for anything except the perfect purse (the search continues). I have been a lucky, lucky girl.

The unofficial truth is that I’ve had two successful careers. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family and I’ve been lucky in love and work and play. I love my life, I love what I do. I love the people and animals that surround me and I am eager to see what the next half of my life brings.

Now that is a bio that looks like me.

I highly recommend this book to any true lover of a good romance novel. This one still has me thinking about the characters days later.

Thanks to Sara at Simon and Schuster, I'm able to giveaway a copy of "Summer of Two Wishes" to one VERY lucky reader. Interested? Ok! Here's what to do.

Rules:

You must reside in either the U.S. or Canada only!

You must be a reader of mine and follow my blog. So, if you haven't done so, just *click* that little follow button to the right and this will give you update on all contests and winners!

How do you win?

First entry is your Name and email address ... if you throw in the name of your very first love I'll give you +2

Separate posts or same...you choose!

Follow me on Twitter +5

Tweet this and Link Back +3 (per tweet)

Blog about this and link back (anywhere) + 5

Share my button on your blog with a link back +10

Contest will close on September 9th and WINNER announced September10th!

GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!

I really enjoyed this book and being part of the tour was amazing!

KISSES ~ XXX

Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz Blog Tour & Giveaway!!

Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz: A Quinceañera Club Novel

By: Belinda Acosta
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 336 Pages
Available: August 11, 2009

My Rating: 4.5 Tiaras!

Synopsis:

All Ana Ruiz wanted was to have a traditional quinceañera for her daughter, Carmen. She wanted a nice way to mark this milestone year in her daughter's life. But Carmen was not interested in celebrating. Hurt and bitter over her father Esteban's departure, she blamed Ana for destroying their happy family, as did everyone else. A good man is hard to find, especially at your age Ana was told. Why not forgive his one indiscretion? Despite everything, Ana didn't want to tarnish Carmen's childlike devotion to her beloved father. But Ana knows that growing up sometimes means facing hard truths. In the end, Ana discovers that if she's going to teach Carmen anything about what it means to be a woman, it will take more than simply a fancy party to do it...

"Belinda Acosta's Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz delivers all its title promises and more: it's a book about damas of all ages, from teenage girls to the struggling mothers of those teenage girls; it's packed with drama so you don't want to stop reading; it's a novel that deeply and honestly tells the story of Ana Ruiz, her own coming of age as a woman and as a mother. Belinda Acosta is up to all of the challenges of such a rich panorama of characters and events. She's sassy, she's smart, she makes it look easy! But it takes a lot of hard work and a pile of talent to write such an engaging, touching book. A wonderful quinceañera of a novel!" --- Julia Alvarez, author of
Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA and Return to Sender"

Lively and perceptive... Acosta empathically captures the innermost feelings of her characters."--- Booklist

My thoughts:

What's a quinceañera? Before opening the book, that's something I needed to know! Here's what I found; It's a celebration or coming-of-age party held on a girl's fifteenth birthday that typically begins with a religious ceremony. This ceremony is usually a good way for the family to bond with the girl turning 15 (especially the mother).

When I first picked up Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz, I expected a humorous beach-type read with little sustenance. But, to my delight, I couldn't have been more wrong! Belinda Acosta does a wonderful job weaving a story of a heart-broken daughter who misses her father's love and a mother that will do anything to gain her daughter's heart back! Belinda uses a unique mixture of humor and narrative point of view to get the messages across to her readers. Which worked for me one hundred percent!

Carmen can only see all the goodness in her father and furthermore, she blames her fully for their immediate separation! A daddy's girl through-and-through she has only starry-eyed notions of just what type of a man he is. Her mother and father, Ana and Esteban Ruiz cannot even hold a civilized conversation, never mind connecting to try and figure out if and how the marriage is going to work! And while Carmen refuses to talk to her mother, Ana is determined to throw Carmen a beautiful Quinceañera with the hopes of bringing them closer together and strengthening their bond.

Most of the story is centered around Ana and her need to regain her own self-confidence along with her daughters love. Ana's Son Diego and her niece Bianca both are there to help with the planning. While Carmen shows her childish, immature and demanding self in this story, her brother is just the opposite. Diego is caring and compassionate and tries to help his mother with whatever she needs. Bianca's got her own mother/daughter issues. Her mother is mentally ill and therefore can't be there for her while she's growing up. Each one of these character's were so well developed that I felt as though I got to know each and every one of them. I cared about what happened to them. I laughed with them and I felt their pain. To me, that's one of the main things that makes a story a success.

I believe this book would make a fantastic book club read (and you can even find a RGG here)! There is so many aspects of this story you could discuss. Also, there are the different cultural aspects of the book that helped me learn a whole lot about a subject I didn't know much about to begin with. I was so angry at times with Ana for not telling her daughter the truth about her father. But, as a mother myself, I could see the struggle she had with trying to protect her daughter from all that wasn't "perfect" in the family. There are already so many different types of things that teen girls have to worry about while entering womanhood. Why add more stress?

Belinda has written a coming of age story and the issues that affect so many of us and not just Spanish families. You could feel the stress in the written word and just how strong the bond of love is between the Ruiz family. This story will at times tug at your heart-strings and at other times laugh out loud! I highly recommend this book and note Ms. Acosta an author to watch!

About the author:

Belinda Acosta has written and published plays, short stories, and essays. As a journalist, her work has appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, The Austin Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News, The San Antonio Current, and AlterNet. Her short story Tortilla Dough appeared in Saguaro, a publication of the University of Arizona in 1992. In 1993, she produced, directed and performed in a multi-media dance-theater performance of La Llorona. National exposure came in 1995 when she read her personal essay Gran Baile, on Latino USA - the Radio Journal of News and Culture, carried on National Public Radio.



Acosta received a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from The University of Texas in 1997. She lives in Austin, Texas and is the TV and media columnist for The Austin Chronicle.

You can learn more about Belinda Acosta by visiting her blog! I also please sign up for the Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz Facebook Fan Page - Here!

Want updates on Damas and Belinda? Follow here on Twitter!

I'd like to thank Miriam and Hachette Book Group

for letting me participate in this Blog Tour!

Want to WIN a copy for yourself? Of course you do!

You must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada only

and have a valid address (NO P.O. Boxes Please)

If you qualify above, here's how you win!

For your entry, tell me the best and/or worst gift you've ever gotten for your birthday

please include your name and email address so I can reach the winner.

Extra Entries? You KNOW IT!

You MUST be a follower of my blog

Each entry must be a separate comment with a link (if needed)

+2 if you follow me on Twitter

+3 if you tweet about this giveaway

+5 if you Blog about this giveaway

+10 if you put my button on my blog (or already have it there) and link back!

This contest will run until August 30th (Midnight EST) and I will draw a winner on the 31st!

Good Luck and Have Fun!!

Can't wait to WIN? Buy the book - HERE!

Kisses ~ XXX

You Can Win NINE Books!

That's right, you can win NINE books....but, you better hurry because there's just one more day to enter this contest over on Sophie's blog ~ Mrs. Magoo Reads!

Here's what she has on her blog:

This contest is open to residents of the US only please

What's it all about??

One lucky winner will win ALL of the following nine books!

-ARC of Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner

-ARC of La Petite Four by Regina Scott (used)

-ARC of The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

-Slept Away by Julie Kraut

-The Diamonds by Ted Michael

-ARC of (Re)Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin (gently used)

-ARC of Work What You Got by Stephanie Perry Moore

-ARC of Hancock Park by Isabel Kaplan

-ARC of 30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs by Clea Hantman

You want them? Ya' know you do... Here's how!

Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, make a post about Mrs. Magoo Reads (must be a post, i.e. not just a link amongst many)

.2) The post must contain a link to this blog, a suggestion to follow me, and a link to this contest

.3) Leave a comment on this post with your name, email address, and link to the post you made

.4) For an extra entry, buy something from my jewelry store

.5) I will announce and email the winner on August 9th. The winner will have 48 hours to get their mailing address to me before I pick a new winner

.6) Good luck!

Well, there you have it! That's all it takes to win NINE books! Good luck to everyone and don't forget to checkout my interview while you're where with Sophie for a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate to the book store of your choice!!

Keep reading and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

KISSES ~ XXX

THE PRINCESS